Visitation for 2-year-old boy run over by car Friday; Likely no charges filed

PENDER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) -- The visitation for a 2-year-old boy killed over the weekend was held Friday night in New Hanover County.

Two-year-old, Carter Gilson died after authorities say he was run over at a home off of Stag Drive in Hampstead.

It all happened just before 9:00PM Saturday evening. Police say 28-year-old, Stevie Wallace was driving the car that backed over the child.

We tried talking to Wallace on both Thursday and Friday, but she was not home either day.
Prosecutors say that at the moment, it does not appear criminal charges will be filed.
Wallace’s neighbors say that what happened to her does not surprise them.

“For her not to be charged for what she’s done that's just horrific to me,” said a neighbor who identified herself only as Ms. Rodriguez, “You just don’t back over a child. I mean, that’s just not something that just happens. I think I just think it’s crazy that she is not being charged.”

On Friday, prosecutors said that charges have not been filed because Wallace was not, “obviously intoxicated,” at the scene of the incident. Prosecutors said Wallace took and passed a Breathalyzer test at the time of the incident and is fully cooperating with authorities.

A blood sample has been set off for testing to see if she was impaired in any other way.
It could take up to a year or more to get the results of that test back, due to state testing backlogs.

Wallace was arrested Tuesday night for a DWI in an unrelated incident after police say she was pulled over for swerving all over the road. She also has several traffic violations and drug charges still outstanding in Pender County.

On his online obituary page, Carter's parents say that he loved fishing with his daddy, riding anything with wheels: skateboards, power wheels, bicycles, and being pushed around mostly; playing with any and every kind of sports balls, playing with his brothers and sisters, being held by his mommy when he was sick and only mommy, making chocolate milk, body boarding, going to the beach, and building things at Lowe's Kids Workshop.

Disclaimer: Comments posted on this, or any story are opinions of those people posting them, and not the views or opinions
of WWAY NewsChannel 3, its management or employees. You can view our comment policy here.

When these things happen it's natural to want to know why. When my parents were raising us my father was tranferred overseas and we left on a crise ship. There were three of us children and I was still an infant and my sister was two and a handfull by herself. Standing on the deck of the ship they let go of her hand and in no time they realized she was gone. They went into panic mode searching for her. She managed to get up to the highest deck that had no railings and could have easily fallen straight down into the ocean. Seamen on the top deck found her just in time. I'm sharing this story because my parents were good parents that always wanted to know where we were and what we were doing. This close call haunted them. Both of them said it only took seconds for my sister to disappear on them. They got a miracle and my sister was saved. I don't know why these and other parents didn't get their miracle but assigning blame is not going to help. This was a tragic accident that they may never get over. This family is going to need a lot of support and prayers. They will no doubt blame themselves so I hope folks will not point fingers and judge them. My parents are now deceased and there isn't one day that goes by I wouldn't give everything I have to just have five more minutes to say I love you and thank you for being the best parent who did their best for their children.

I love how suddenly everyone remembers how either (a) they had perfect 24/7 surveillance over their 2 year olds and kept them tethered at all times and never let them out of their sight for half a second, or (b) their parents did.

Anyone with recent experience with little ones, and who is being honest, knows that those little rascals can get away from you in the blink of an eye. Sadly, sometimes that's all it takes for something awful to happen.

I do not know what this driver's deal is or what happened that night. But the people who think that a 2 year old can't sneak away from their parents for a few moments don't live in reality. They either never had kids, or it's been so long they've forgotten what it's like. Or they're just liars, bragging about how great they never really were.

Rest in peace, sweet child. If justice needs to be served, then may it be served.

Why was a 24 month old child left unattended at 9:00 at night in a dark driveway? Where were the parents? Everyone is focused on the driver, but has anyone asked why the child was out alone after dark without adult supervision? It's truly horrific that this happened and my heart goes out to his family, but I feel that the driver alone is not wholly responsible for this tragedy.

I have to disagree about blaming the parents....this can happen to any parent however loving observant and/or diligent they are. It is a tragic accident kids step behind and vehicle and can not be seen on the review mirror because they are so short. It is actually more common than you would think. It happens at all hours day or night. I am so sick of seeing people being so quick to judge a parent after an accident. As a parent myself I couldn't imagine the horror and while I also "never let me kids out of my sight" as one person said freak accidents still happen. Little kiddos are quick

It was a gathering at the house and there were about ten children of all ages playing in the front years while adults were both inside and outside the home. The driver was leaving that house when she put it in reverse and back over him. It was witnessed by the adults who were supervising the children. It's not like he was alone sitting outside and some lady off the road ran up on the curb into the lawn